KALAMAZOO, MI – More
than 50 people packed into the Kalamazoo County Democratic headquarters
Saturday to hear Paul Clements formally announce his candidacy for the 2014
congressional race to a standing-room-only crowd.

WMU professor Paul Clements, who is looking to unseat U.S. Rep. Fred Upton in 2014, speaks to a packed crowd at the Kalamazoo County Democratic headquarters Nov. 9.Yvonne Zipp / Kalamazoo Gazette

Clements received a standing ovation when he entered the
headquarters at 3254 S. Westnedge Ave. at 12:25 p.m.

"I'm pretty happy as a professor and if you'd asked me three
years ago about running for Congress, I would have looked at you with a blank
stare," Clements said. "But it became increasingly clear to me, as I think it
is for most Americans, that our Congress is not working. It became clear that
our congressman, Fred Upton, is part of the problem ... He's changed from working
to solve problems for the American people to working to block anything the
party leadership is opposed to. He's changed from legislating to posturing."

Clements is the latest in a line of Democratic challengers
who have tried to oust the St. Joseph Republican, who was first elected in 1986.

So far, Clements said, he has raised more than $160,000 in
campaign funds, which he said puts him on pace to surpass the $290,000 total of Mike O'Brien, who lost to Upton in 2012..

"We still have a year to go," said Clements, who added that
he would be in Washington, D.C. Nov. 18, 19 and 20 and had more than 20
meetings lined up.

In an interview after his speech, Clements cited October
polls that showed Upton with "the lowest approval ratings of his career ... I
think there's definitely an opportunity and we're beginning to get national
attention."

Clements, who was born in Texas but raised in India and Hong
Kong, spoke to the crowd about his time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa and
his work evaluating the success and cost-effectiveness of programs for
governments and nonprofit organizations in developing nations.

"I would like to bring this expertise and experience to make
American government work better," he said."We need reasonable and responsible government back in Washington."

Clements, 52, received his bachelor's degree from Harvard
University. While studying at Princeton University, where he received his
master's and doctorate, his faculty advisor was Federal Reserve Chairman Ben
Bernanke, he said.

If elected, he said he would focus on environmental
concerns, including climate change and the safety of the country's nuclear
power plants, as well as education, including universal preschool for all
children. Clements also spoke about the need to not "mortgage the future of our
children and grandchildren," either
fiscally or environmentally.

State Rep. Sean McCann, D-Kalamazoo, spoke in support of
Clements, invoking U.S. Rep. Howard Wolpe as another professor who famously ran
for office in Southwest Michigan. Wolpe was elected to seven terms,
representing Kalamazoo from 1979 to 1993.

"The point is: This can be done. I know it looks uphill and
difficult. But that doesn't speak to the power of the people in this room,"
said McCann, who is running for state Senate. "We can make this happen. We can
turn Kalamazoo County a blue symbol across the state. We can change the 6th
district and really send a message to Congress and to the nation."

McCann quoted former President Bill Clinton, saying, "'We're
all in it together' is a better philosophy than, 'You're on your own.'"

A number of those interviewed said they believed it was
possible to unseat Upton.

"I think the numbers here today and the fact we had to turn
people away is a testament to Fred Upton's vulnerability," said John Taylor,
Kalamazoo County commissioner.

"His bottom line isn't making a profit; it's finding a
solution," said JoAnne Ivey, of Texas Township, who planned to support
Clements.

"He (Clements) is much more in tune with the people who would be his
constituents. He's not tied in with business but with the needs of the people,"
said Susan Eden, of Oshtemo, who attended the rally with her husband, Raymond.

Eden said she had voted for Upton "a number of times" in the
past, but added,"that was when he was more moderate."